Seoul's construction safety questioned after deadly overpass collapse

Seoul's construction safety management is under intense scrutiny following a deadly collapse at the Seosomun overpass demolition site and a separate incident involving missing rebar at the GTX-A Samsung station. The dual failures have amplified public concern over the city's oversight of major infrastructure projects.

The Seosomun overpass, built in 1966, was deemed structurally deficient and received a D-grade safety rating after a 2019 incident where concrete fragments fell onto the road. Despite considering repairs, the city opted for demolition due to expert recommendations for a full reconstruction. The demolition project, valued at 12 billion won and managed by Heungwha Corporation, was overseen by Suseong Engineering as the construction management unit.

The collapse occurred on a section of the overpass crossing the Gyeongui Line railway. A temporary scaffolding and slab, intended for fall protection, gave way, resulting in the deaths of the supervising engineer, site manager, and an external expert. Three Seoul and Seodaemun district officials were also injured while inspecting the site. In response, Seoul Mayor's acting head, Kim Seong-bo, expressed condolences and pledged a thorough investigation and measures to prevent recurrence, while a disaster and safety response headquarters has been established.

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We will focus all our capabilities on securing site safety, supporting victims, and managing and recovering from the accident, while doing our best to identify the exact cause and establish measures to prevent recurrence.